The paternal line of the Mannerheim family had come to Sweden from the Netherlands in the 17th century and had great influence on the conditions in Finland during the first decades of autonomy. At Gustaf’s birth, the family was one of the best-known noble families in the country.
Mannerheim’s great-grandfather Carl Erik
Mannerheim (1759-1837) belonged to the Anjala League, an opposition movement during the
reign of Gustav III, but survived through amnesty and purchased the Louhisaari country
estate in 1795. In 1805 he was chosen chairman of the Finnish Economic Society. At the
beginning of Russian rule in Finland, he was chairman of the delegation accounting for
matters in Finland to Tsar Alexander I, county governor and deputy chairman of the
Economic Department of the Senate (a kind of Prime Minister) 1822-1826.
His grandfather, a renowned entomologist Carl
Gustaf Mannerheim, was president of the Viipuri Court of Appeal 1839-1954.
His father, a groom of the chamber, Count Carl
Robert Mannerheim (1835-1914) was a poet, writer and industrial businessman. His
businesses were not, however, successful and he drifted into bankruptcy. The Louhisaari
estate was sold in 1880 to his sister Mimmi (Eva Carolina) Mannerheim and the father
escaped his economic chaos to Paris. There he lead a life of an artist.
Mannerheim’s mother Hélène (maiden name Julin) belonged to a well-known industrial family.
Altogether there were eight siblings.
Sofia (Sophie) Mannerheim 21.12.1863-9.1.1928
Carl Mannerheim 18.3.1865-6.7.1915
Johan Mannerheim 27.12.1868-25.9.1934
Eva Sparre 30.6.1870-1957
Anna Mannerheim 4.3.1872-18.5.1886
August Mannerheim 9.11.1873-22.4.1910
Marguerite (Kissie) Gripenberg 15.10.1884-1958
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